THE SOLUTION FOR TERRORISM

[larudee@pacbell.net]

Wow, Bill, that's as fine a mission statement as I've ever heard.
Unfortunately, our current foreign policy is close to being the opposite
of that.  It is directed primarily by large corporations and other
special interests who ally themselves with corrupt local bullies to
assure low wages and raw materials for the benefit of the companies, who
take an active part in the corruption.  Even when other developed
countries participate in the corruption, it is generally the U.S. that
provides the arms to suppress dissent.

Theis comes from a highly cynical corporate culture where profit is
everything and every means is used to enhance the bottom line.  Witness
the California energy crisis, for example, which was manipulated to
produce huge profits for Enron, El Paso Gas and other large campaign
contributors with special access to the White House.  They figure they're
"playing by the rules" even while they're robbing millions of people.
Furthermore, they get to write the rules with their campaign
contributions.

I agree with Bill Ballard's and Robert Wilson's solution.  I just don't
know how it's going to happen the way things are currently run.

Paul Larudee

Bill Ballard wrote:

> At 4:28 PM -0700 9/28/01, Robert Wilson wrote:
> >There is no instant cure which is why
> >President Bush has indicated that this is going to be
> >a very long crusade, possibly lasting years.  You have
> >to tackle not only terrorism but the causes of
> >terrorism (to parody a favourite phrase of our Prime
> >Minister, Tony Blair) !
> >
> >Bob Wilson
> >London
>
> I wouldn't get in the ring with Mulhammed Ali (in his prime), and I
> wouldn't go to war with terrorists. This is inviting us to join in
> the war they want to fight. We should choose our own weapons (and
> kind of war) and our own time, not simply take what kind of fight and
> what time they hand us. I know it's embarrassing that, given the
> sorry consequences of military action in this case and given its
> unsuitability to the task, our enormous military strength is not much
> use. but this is a different situation. Bin Laden is not Manuel
> Noriega and Afghanistan is not Panama.
>
> Rather, we should return them in kind. The terrorists (whoever they
> may be) cleverly took what we had always assumed to be strengths of
> our country and turned them into weapons against us. Our country's
> strength is an advanced financial and social structure: airplanes to
> erase geographical distances, and tall buildings to concentrate more
> human activity into a smaller acreage. Boy did they get us.
>
> If we assume that bin Laden is the best target, then we should look
> at his strength, an unending reserve of indigent and displaced
> muslims ready to die for the cause and the mission. Without a fresh
> supply of Afghani, Saudi, Egyptian , Palestinian, and Algerian with
> nothing to lose and thoroughly convinced that the Prophet Mohamed
> himself approves of this terrorist's war, Bin Laden couldn't buy
> enough people willing to do this kind of work for pay.
>
> This is his strength and this is where we will attack him. Beginning
> with the tide of Afghani women and children now over the Pakistani
> government. Take care of the families of those poor Afghani men whom
> the Taliban forced to remain in the country. Family values will
> quickly become clear, as the woman and children will be cared for as
> never before during Afghanistan's long civil war. That's when the
> large "Silent Majority" of the Afghani population not wearing the
> Taliban's uniform, will know on which side of the Pakistan border
> their bread is getting buttered on, and in fact, where the bread and
> butter is. That's when country after country will look upon this
> warrior class of terrorist networks and cells as being a venomous
> population to be cast out. I'm talking any of the Arab Islamic
> country as being the next stop in Bin Laden's continual trek:
> Palestine/Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Somalia. Each country is going to
> have to have it's living conditions cleaned up (famine abated,
> standards of health/education/democracy raised, whatever). It's a
> tall order, but consider the alternative: living,as this war
> progresses, in an increasing state of siege mentality and getting
> used to it. The Israelis do better at this than anyone else, but
> while this may be staying on top of the war, it is definitely not
> being in peace. The Israelis and Arabs may never coexist in peace,
> but I think this country wants the blessings of peace. I know I do.
>
> I think this whole woeful chapter in our history would run better if
> the government could do what it has to in this country quietly, and
> not feel that it has to make such a show on the 6PM news every night.
> Our enemy doesn't need to have any clues about what moves we're
> making.
>
> This country should stand for life rather than death. I'm hoping it
> stands for the rule of law, and for proper peaceful forums for the
> settlement of disputes.
>
> Mr. Bill Ballard RPT
> NH Chapter, P.T.G.
>
> "The law gets you into everything. It's the ultimate backstage pass.
> It's the new priesthood"
>      ...........Al Pacino in "Devil's Advocate"
> +++++++++++++++++++++